Friday, February 15, 2013
Patch readers will remember Angela Youngblood from her "Patch Drives" test-driving series last year. Read about her new vehicle — and about how her big, old van turned into a teachable moment for her whole family.
Editor's note: Rochester mom Angela Youngblood chronicled her car-shopping adventure across Oakland and Macomb counties last year for a series we called Patch Drives. Patch readers went along as Youngblood test drove a Honda Odyssey, Ford Flex, MINI Cooper, Chevy Suburban, Dodge Journey and Chrysler Town & Country. Here is the long-awaited ending to her research and travels. Last spring, I was van shopping. I was searching for the right fit for our family. You all went along for the ride while I tried out different SUVs, minivans and even a MINI Cooper. Eight long months have passed and I finally got my new ride. Let me back up a bit. Since we last talked, the van has been falling apart little by little, sort of like my pride. After …
Saturday, January 19, 2013
You've had a week of the hype, now go see what all the fuss is about at Cobo Hall.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Get the scoop on hours, tickets, parking, what's on display, special events and more before you head downtown, Bloomfield and Bloomfield Hills.
The 2013 North American International Auto opens to the public Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Cobo Center in Detroit and we've got the scoop on what you need to know before you go! [Do you know someone from Bloomfield and Bloomfield Hills who will be participating behind the scenes? Leave a comment!] More than 500 vehicles from Detroit automakers and other global manufacturers will be on display inside the renovated Cobo Center and 40 will make their global debut during the 24th annual event. (See the attached PDF for a map of exhibitors.)
Monday, August 20, 2012
We were out along Woodward Avenue Saturday covering the Woodward Dream Cruise 2012 from multiple communities, including Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills.
- DREAM CRUISE-BLOOMFIELD-BLOOMFIELD HILLS
- Art Aisner
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Monday, August 20, 2012
Couldn't make it to the 2012 Woodward Dream Cruise? Or you did go, but just couldn't get enough? No worries. Check out what you might have missed with our coverage, and feel free to add to it by uploading photos and posting anecdotes in the comments below. LIVE Blog: Dream Cruise Traffic, Weather Keeping People Happy LIVE Blog: Regional Coverage of the 2012 Woodward Dream Cruise Classic Cars Highlight the 2012 Dream Cruise Spectators watch the 18th annual cruise Food and fun at the Dream Cruise The 2012 Woodward Dream Cruise From Birmingham A Recap of the 2012 Woodward Dream Cruise From Royal Oak A Recap of the Woodward Dream Cruise in Berkley, Huntington Woods The 2012 Woodward Dream Cruise From Ferndale Got a pic or two you'd…
42.56015
-83.22401
Woodward Ave & W Big Beaver Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI
/articles/woodward-dream-cruise-2012-catch-up-with-patch-s-coverage
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-83.26467
Woodward Ave & W Square Lake Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI
/articles/woodward-dream-cruise-2012-catch-up-with-patch-s-coverage
/locations/7638021
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Vintage and one-of-a kind cars will be on display on the grounds of The Inn at St. John's.
On the surface, the Concours d'Elegance is a display of hundreds of elegant vintage and rare cars. But if you take the time to talk with the owners, you'll learn that each car has its own story. Like the 1939 Lincoln LeBaron Parade Phaeton, which was one of four cars built to take Great Britain's King George VI and the Queen Elizabeth on a tour of Canada that year. When Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip came to North America in 1957, they used the same car. The Parade Phaeton and more than 300 other vehicles will be on display at the Concours d'Elegance of America, which is returning for its second year to the grounds of The Inn at St. John's in Plymouth. A media preview was held this morning. The main event will be held from 10 a.m.-4…
Thursday, June 21, 2012
You can, indeed, relate a fear of getting older and a love for '80s hair bands to shopping for minivans.
Editor's note: This is the final installment in a two-month series. To read the full report, including all of Angela's car reviews, see our Patch Drives page. I began this car-shopping, test-driving experience as a total non-car person. I couldn’t even tell you the year, make or model of my current ride. To be honest, after two months of car talk, I still couldn’t tell you the year, make or model of my current ride. But I can tell you that this experience has taught me so much. It’s taught me that you can indeed relate a fear of getting older and a love for '80s hair bands to shopping for minivans. It’s taught me that there’s a reason that we are somewhat auto-obsessed in America. It’s taught me that a stay-at-home mother who just …
Thursday, May 31, 2012
I'm shifting gears — and shifting into gear — in a two-seater. Because a mom can dream all kinds of movie-scene cool, right?
Editor's note: This is the latest in a series; Angela, a mom of four, is writing about her search for a replacement for her full-size van. So far she has driven a Ford Flex, a Honda Odyssey, a Chevy Suburban and a Dodge Journey. My 20th high school reunion is this August. Not to go all When Harry Met Sally on you, but I will be 40 ... someday. Except my someday is only a couple years away. I still expect to see my 28-year-old self when I look in the mirror. And if I’m totally being honest, some days it’s more like my 15-year-old self. Some days I get overwhelmed with all this aging. Not because I can see every bad sunbathing decision in the form of a new wrinkle on my face. No. More because I feel like someone else should be in charge…
42.629112
-83.091685
45550 Dequindre Rd, Rochester Hills, MI
Motor City MINI
/articles/patch-drives-why-the-mini-cooper-is-a-perfect-not-so-perfect-car-for-moms
/locations/7188255
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The Dodge Journey helped me accept the fact that maybe 'soccer mom' isn't such a bad label after all.
Editor's note: This is the latest in a series. Read all of the Patch Drives installments here. This car-shopping, test-driving experience is changing me. As I search for a replacement for my full-size van, I’m caring about things I never thought I would care about. I know things I never thought I would know about. I want for technology that I didn’t even know existed: Whatever car I end up choosing must sync with my iPhone, for starters. This week, when I walked into the dealership with (dare I say) a bit of confidence — or maybe it was cockiness — I declared “I’m here for the Patch Drives series” and waited. I waited for the “Oh, of course my lady, let me get your car for you.” Alas, they didn’t know me. And the one person who was …
42.66254
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Rochester Hills Chrysler Jeep Dodge
1301 S Rochester Rd, Rochester Hills, MI
/articles/patch-drives-my-journey-to-acceptance
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Thursday, May 17, 2012
I thought I wanted to ditch the big ride – until I drove a loaded 2012 Chevy Suburban.
Editor's note: This is the latest in a series. Read all of the Patch Drives installments here. Here’s the thing: I thought I was ready to ditch the big ride. I thought I was looking for something more compact — well, as compact as you can get while loading four kids and all their stuff. I thought those things until I drove a loaded 2012 Chevy Suburban. Two days in the Suburban rekindled my passion for extra large cars (and big hair bands, too, courtesy of SiriusXM Radio). When I drove my giant custom van into the parking lot of Matthews-Hargreaves Chevrolet in Royal Oak, I admit I got what is becoming a familiar twinge of nerves. Like I’m going on yet another first date. Will they like me? Will I like them? Before I jumped down out of …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
This minivan is a smart person's car. But am I ready for that?
Editor's note: This is the latest in a series. Read all of the Patch Drives installments here. Who says boring isn’t cool? OK, I said that, just a couple days ago. But after driving a Honda Odyssey I realized boring still isn’t cool, but smart is. And the Odyssey is a smart person’s car. This week I headed over to Honda Bloomfield to test drive an Odyssey. Here’s the thing: I know a few Honda people. You probably know Honda people, too. People who swear there is nothing better than a Honda. People that are practical. People that are serious. People that read the safety reports before shopping for a car. People that are, well, kind of boring. I like to think of myself as more of an edgy, fun, cool kind of chick (that’s why I drive a …
Cheryl Junker
10:19 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
I love this story! The musical references made me smile. I so miss my old duct taped Escort Wagon ( the old grocery getter ). I actually DID sleep in mine a few times in Nevada I think.....just about the time I gave up on affordable hotels in L.V. and about an hour out of town when I was sure those lights in the distance meant an approaching hotel. Little did I know, it was just a mirage :)... … more ›